The SWAN Partnership recognises the health and social
inequalities experienced by women involved in the sex
industry, and works to engage with this vulnerable and
hard to reach group. Led by Northamptonshire PCT, the
partnership comprises: Northamptonshire Police;
Northamptonshire Probation Service; Maple Access
Partnership; Northampton Drug and Alcohol Service; Drug
and Alcohol Action Team; CAN (a voluntary drug and
alcohol organisation); Northampton Borough and County
Councils and service user representation.
A dedicated team of staff plus volunteers provide a safe,
female only premises, outreach and drop in sessions, and
individual client work. Each member of the partnership
contributes by providing mainstream posts, management
support, or grant funding as appropriate. SWAN is also
careful to recognise the contributions from local
communities, attending meetings with residents on a
regular basis and welcoming input of service users.
In the course of the last year SWAN estimates that 90% of
street sex workers are now accessing a GP and 70% are in
drug treatment. They have begun a focussed outreach
programme working into off street sex working premises,
with monthly visits to 80% of the parlours in the county.
SWAN’s help provides sexual health materials, health advice
and support as well as links into substance use treatment
and housing support.
However small each step may seem, for the SWAN team,
knowing that a woman with minimal service provision and
previously limited choices in all areas will achieve the same
choices and services as everybody else, and as a result has
hope for a positive future, is what the team is ultimately
proud of.
For more information on this project, please contact:
Angela.hillery@northants.nhs.uk
